BELLINGHAM, Wash. — 1 man has pled guilty and another has an active warrant for his arrest after failing to appear in court following their arrests related to a March strong-arm robbery in Bellingham.
Nicholas Kent Robert Miller, age 39, pled guilty to a charge of 2nd degree theft and a charge of 1st degree robbery was dismissed on October 13th according to Whatcom County Superior Court records. He was sentenced to 90 days in custody with credit for time served and ordered to pay $500 in fines and fees.
Miller’s suspected accomplice, Robert Lee Starry, II, age 48, also faces 2nd degree theft and 1st degree robbery charges. He was out of custody after posting a $7,500 bond in July but failed to appear for a court hearing on October 3rd. Due to failing to appear in court, the bond was ordered forfeited and a bench warrant was issued with a $15,000 bail requirement.
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Click for more informationStarry has another case pending in Whatcom County Superior Court where he is charged with suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle from an incident in January. He was out of custody during the robbery after being released on personal recognizance. A bench warrant has also been issued for his arrest with a $5,000 bail requirement in that case due to his failure to appear.
On March 16th, Bellingham Police Department (BPD) officers were dispatched to a report of a strong-arm robbery at a Bellingham business in the 2000 block of Toledo Street. A detailed description of the suspect vehicle was provided.
According to initial police radio reports, 1 or more suspects reportedly had fought with employees at the business and left with stolen products.
Within minutes, a BPD officer reported to be following the suspect vehicle at a distance while heading eastbound on Mount Baker Highway.
About 3:45pm, with other law enforcement personnel reported to be in position, the BPD officer activated his emergency lights to attempt a get the vehicle to pull over. The suspect vehicle pulled over and its occupants, Miller and Starry, detained about 7 miles from where the robbery was reported to have occurred.